FL-412 is a California family court form used when a party is asking the court to hold the other party in contempt of court for violating court orders related to domestic violence, child custody, visitation, or parenting time. Contempt is a serious legal action, and FL-412 provides the sworn factual statements needed to show that the other party willfully disobeyed a valid court order. This form is always used together with FL-410 (Order to Show Cause and Affidavit for Contempt).

The purpose of FL-412 is to give the court a clear, detailed description of each act of disobedience. The person filing the form lists every specific incident in which the other party violated the court’s orders—such as refusing to follow a custody schedule, interfering with visitation, violating restraining orders, denying parenting time, or failing to comply with domestic violence protective provisions. Each alleged act of contempt must be listed separately so the judge can decide whether a violation occurred.

FL-412 requires the filer to show that:

A valid court order existed,

The other party knew about the order, and

The other party willfully violated it.
Because contempt is punishable by fines, community service, or even jail, the court requires precise, factual statements supported by dates, times, and specific conduct. This form becomes part of the sworn affidavit that the judge reviews to determine whether a contempt hearing is justified.

This form is especially important in domestic violence and child access cases, where safety and compliance must be taken seriously. Violations such as refusing exchanges, threatening the other parent, withholding the children, violating restraining orders, or engaging in prohibited contact can all be addressed through FL-412. By documenting these violations under oath, the filer gives the court the evidence needed to enforce compliance or impose penalties.

In summary, FL-412 is the required affidavit for describing acts of contempt involving domestic violence, custody, and visitation orders. It gives the court a clear, sworn account of each violation and supports the legal process of enforcing orders designed to protect children and survivors of abuse. When completed thoroughly and accurately, FL-412 helps the court determine whether contempt proceedings should move forward and what consequences may be appropriate.